Addressing machine



April 25, 1944 ELLIOTT 2,347,404

ADDRESSING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1959 'r Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN no:

MASS

April ,1 H. P. ELLIOTT ADDRESSING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1939 7Sheets-Sheet 2 April 25, 1944. H. P. ELLIOTT 2,347,404

ADDRESSING MACHINE Filed June '7', 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 m m I /40 MewApril 1944- H. P. ELLIOTT ADDRESSING MACHINE Filed June '7, 1939 '7Sheets-Sheet 4 April 25, 1944. H. P. ELLIOTT ADDRESSING MACHINE FiledJune 7, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Hh "a l Nhh 7 Sheets-Sh eet 7 P. ELLIOTTADDRESSING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1959 vuzuz 28.15 82123 5 Patented Apr.25, 1944 UNITED STATES E ATENT OFFICE ADDRESSING MACHINE Harmon P.Elliott, Watertown, Mass.

Application June 7, 1939, Serial No. 277,770

26 Claims.

The present invention relates to addressing machines of the type whereinthe data to be printed is carried by movable printing devices and, asillustrated herein, relates more particularly to machines of the typewherein successive address printing stencils are fed into printingposition and in which the number of impressions made by any one of theprinting devices is automatically controlled.

In the use of an addressing machine, in an insurance office, forinstance, each of the stencils may contain the name and address of thepolicy holder, the policy number, the premium due date and otheraccounting data. It is or can be common practice to send out anexpiration notice premium receipts of different policy holders to beprinted thereon.

The expiration notice and the premium receipt are printed successivelyon a single sheet which may contain three or more sets of notices andreceipts. This is done to facilitate and speed up the addressingoperation since three sets of addresses may be printed with only onehandling of the paper sheet. This method of handling or printingexpiration notices and premium receipts necessitates the severing ofpairs of notices and receipts from the sheet. While this severingoperation may be performed in a separate machine or manually, such amethod in- .creases materially the cost of preparing such notices andreceipts.

One object of the present invention is to provide means forautomatically severing sets of forms after the addresses have beenapplied to a continuous sheet containing the sets of forms. Asillustrated, the present machine is provided with a printing head andmeans for moving the sheet to be addressed step by step past theprinting mechanism to a feed roll which is operative to continue thefeed of the sheet after the last address printing operation is performedthereon and as another sheet is placed in position between the step bystep feeding means. The first mentioned sheet is then fed laterally to asevering mechanism which seve-rs the sheet into sets through theprinting station between successive address applying operations. Afterthe last address has been applied to the addressed sheet, a pair ofcooperating feed rolls areconditioned to feed the addressed sheet to aposition where the sheet is engaged by a lateral sheet pusher to movethe sheet laterally. The machine is provided with a plurality ofsevering devices for severing the sheet into a plurality of sets offorms, each set containing the same address and different sets eachcontaining different addresses. The lateral sheet pusher feeds theaddressed sheet laterally to the action of the severing means andfeeding devices associated with the severing means deliver the severedsets of forms to an endless belt conveyor which is so arranged that thesevered sets of forms are delivered to areceiver from which the sets areremoved periodically. The machine is also provided with means forreceiving the severed feed tab of the sheet, the conveyer being solocated with respect to the severing means which separates the feed tabfrom its associated form that the tab is free to fall into a chute orguideway from whence it is delivered to the feed tab receiving means.

Another object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide an improvedaddressing machine in which the above mentioned features are embodied.

Another object of-the invention is to improve generally upon theconstruction and operation of printing and addressing machines.

With the above and other objects and features in view the invention willnow be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the addressing machine;

Fig. 2 isa view in cross section, on an enlarged scale, taken along theline 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation, on an enlarged scale; of mechanismforcontrolling the operationof the printing mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view in cross section, on an enlarged scale, taken along theline 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of an accumulator mechanismparticularly adapted for use in the present machine;

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6; v

Fig. 8 is a plan view of mechanism for operating the stencil pusher andfor operating the lateral sheet feeding means;

Fig. 8a is a view of the pawl and ratchet mechanism shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 9 is a view, partly in section, illustrating the location of theselector mechanism relative to the printing mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a View in cross-section, on an enlarged scale, taken alongthe line l0l 0 of Fig. 1 illustrating the construction of the lateralsheet feeding mechanism and the severing mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a view in cross section taken alon theline H-ll of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of mechanism for moving the sheet feedingmechanism step by step laterally toward the severing mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a view in cross section taken along the line l3l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a wiring diagram of the selector control mechanism;

Figs. 15, 16, and 17 are diagrammatic views illustrating particularlythe relation of the step by step feeding means and the continuouslyoperating feeding means; Fig. 15 illustrates the position of the partsduring the insertion of a printed sheet; Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic viewillustratins the position of the parts at the completion of the lastaddressing operation upon the sheet end; Fig. 17 is a View similar toFig. 16 but shows the sheet fed to the lateral feeding means during theinsertion of another sheet into printing posi- Fig. 18 is a diagrammaticplan view showing the relation of the parts of the machine after thesheet has been fed to the lateral feeding mechaanism;.

Fig. 19 is a similar view showing the position of .thesheet after it haspassed through the severaction or to a series of transactions with oneperson to whom the forms are addressed.

As illustrated in Fig. 20, a sheet 30 contains three sets of printedforms. Each set comprises an expiration notice 32 and a premium receipt.the space or blank 36 on the expiration notice in which th policynumber and the premium due date are to beprinted. The premium receipt 34containssimilar spaces 44 and 46, one of which receives the policynumber and the other receives the dat at which. the insurancecovered bythe premium to be paid expires. It is apparent that other blanks orspaces may be provided, if desired, to receive additional data.

The address and other data, above referred to, as illustrated areprinted on the blanks by the use of stencils 48. These stencils are wellknown in the art and comprise a pair of thick outer or facing papersheets and a middle or welt shee The outer or facing paper sheets areprovided with aligned rectangular openings 50. The welt sheet extendsinto the space between th aligned windows and is provided with anopening and a stencil sheet 52 overlies the opening in the welt sheetand is located within the windows of the facing pap-er sheet. Thestencil sheet 52 is adhesively secured to the edges of the welt sheetadjacent to the opening therein. The stencil sheet 52 is adapted toreceive the address and other 'data to be printed. The stencils 48 arealso provided with control perforations 53, or equivalent means,suitably positioned in the stencil to permit the selection for printingof certain stencils only of a collection.

The machine embodying the present invention comprises a frame includinga table or bed 54 supported on legs 56, 56. A pair of rails 60 arespaced above the top of the table and extend in spaced horizontalparallel relation across the table and constitute a track in which thesuccessive stencils 48 are advanced from a vertical stack of stencilscontained in a stencil holder 62 located above the left hand end of thetrack and through a printing position and into a stencil receiver 64located at the other side of the machine and below the spaced rails 60.

The printing mechanism includes a substantially vertically movableprinting head 66 located above the stencil track and a verticallymovable anvil 68 located below the stencil track. The impression orprinting head 66 is carried by the forwardly extending ends of arms 10which are carried by a horizontal loop frame 12 disposed at the rear ofthe stencil track and pivoted to a shaft 14 (Fig. 2) carried by abracket 16 secured to the under side of the table 54. The impressionhead is supplied with ink by means of a horizontally swinging ink roller18 carried by a pair of swinging arms 30 which are pivotally mounted inthe forwardly extending ends of arms 82 secured to the top of a bracket84 which in turn is secured to the bed 54 of the machine rearwardly ofthe loop frame 12. The ink roll '18 is supplied with ink from anysuitable ink distributing mechanism and the roll 18 is moved across thebottom face of the impression pad 66 in a manner not necessary todescribe in detail herein.

The anvil or platen 68 is mounted between and forms a part of theforward ends of arms 85 which are pivoted at 38 to the rear part of thebracket I6. The platen and the printing head are adapted to bereciprocated toward and away from each other in timed relation so thatthe platen supports a work sheet beneath and in contact with the stencil48 at the time that the printing head 66 moves into engagement with thestencil 48.

' Th operating mechanism for reciprocating the printing head and theanvil includes a horizontal shaft supported by the bracket 16 providingpivotal support for an operating arm 92 which is reciprocated in avertical direction. The arm -92 is pivotally connected through a link 94with the lower end of an arm 96 depending from the loop frame '12. It isevident that the reciprocation of the arm 80 efiects the reciprocationof the printing head-66. The reciprocation of the arm 92 also eifectsthe reciprocation of the generally vertically extending cam arm 98 whichcooperates with a cam roller I02 carried by the platen for effecting thereciprocatory movement of the anvil or platen 68.

The operating arm 92 (see Figs. 2 and 4) is provided at its free endwith a latch I04 which is pivoted thereto and which is normally urgedtoward an operating sector I06 to bring a latch projection I933 intoengagement with a notch I I9 formed in the sector I65. The operatingsector IE is pivoted on the shaft 98 so that the arm 82 and th sectorIE5 normally reciprocate in unison. The engagement of the latch I04 withthe sector Hit is under control ofthe selector mechanism and is arrangedat times to be disengaged from the sector as will later be explained.The sector iflB is reciprocated by means of a connecting rod I52 (Fig.2) from a power plant H4.

The power plant H4 as is usual in machines of this type, has a jackshaft H5 driven from the motor Ill, which shaft is arranged to beconstantly rotated during operation of the machine. The shaft Ilfidrivesa shaft IIB through gear connections not shown. The driving connectionbetween the shaft H5 and the shaft H8 includes a one revolution clutchof well-known construction which is under the control of a foot pedalI29 which eifects one complete reciprocatory movement of the connectingrod H2 and hence one complete cycle of operation of the machine for eachdepression and release of the pedal iii When, however, the pedal is helddown by the operative in the normal operation of the machine, themachine will operate continuously. The treadle or foot pedal I2!) isconnected by a link H22 to a hand lever I24 located at the right handside of the table, see Fig. 1, so that the control of operation of themachine may be effected by hand if desired, the machine ordinarilyperforming several cycles before it need be stopped for a new worksheet.

As is common practice in addressing articles, it is desired to addressforms by selected stencils only contained within the stencil holder 82.To this end, selector mechanism is employed to condition the printingmechanism to operate only upon desired or selected stencils and topermit the passage of undesired stencils through the printing positionwithout printing therefrom. If a selected stencil is in printingposition and the next stencil to be sensed by the selector happens to beone that is not desired to be printed, the selector mechanism, ascommonl arranged, operates to disable the printing mechanism followingthe first printing operation on the stencil that is in printing positionand would effect the feeding movement of such stencil out of printingposition. With the present construction, however, only one of thedesired two impressions from the same stencil would be made. Therefore,the selector mechanism is so arranged as to sense a stencil only duringalternate cycles of operation of the printing mechanism, providing awanted stencil is in printing position between the platen and impressionpad. If, however, an unwanted stencil is in printing position thearrangement of the mechanism is such that the selector will feel. ormake a sensing operation on, successive stencils during each cycle ofoperation of the machine, the printing mechanism being disabled,

until a stencil that is wanted for printing is positioned in'theprintingposition. The arrange merit of the mechanism is such, as will presentlyappear, that a fresh stencil is advanced at each cycle of operation ofthe machine so longas there are unwanted stencils inprinting position,thereby tomove an unwanted stencil into and out of printing position inone cycle of operation, but when a wanted stencil is in printingposition the arrangement is such that a fresh stencil is advanced duringevery other cycle of operation of the machine, thereby permitting twoprinting operations to be made on the same wanted stencil.

In Figs. 1, 5, 6, '7, and 9, there is shown a selector mechanism whichincludes the selector I25 mounted in a frame I26 which is movableangularly toward and away from a stencil spaced two stations away fromthe printing position. The selector frame I26 is movable angularly in adirection transversely of the stencil guideway to permit sliding contactbetween the ends of selector pins I28 mounted in the bracket I25 and astationary contact plate I30 to insure that a good electrical connectionis made between the pins I28 which are adapted to enter underlyingselector perforations in the stencil and the contacts wt cooperatingtherewith. In the specific disposition herein illustrated, the arran ent is suc that if a pin I28 enters a selector perforation duringdescending movement of the selector frame I26, an electric circuitthereby is completed which conditions the printing mechanism for aprinting operation. The angularly positioned selector guide 1132 issecured to the forward rail til. The selector frame I25 is guided formovement in this guideway W2 and, as is now well-known in the art, isprovided with teeth which are arranged to mesh with a gear sector fixedto a horizontal shaft 534 which is journalled in the guide member 532.An arm I36 is fixed to one end of said shaft 534 and is pivotallyconnected to a substantially horizontal link I38. The oscillations ofthe shaft I34 are effected through the arm 536 and the link I38 byconnections to one end of a horizontally extending shaft idll located atthe rear part of the table and journalled in suitable bearings M2secured to the bed E i of the machine. The shaft I40 has fixed to itsother end an arm Hi3 which extends below the table M. The lower end ofthe depending arm Id-i is provided with a cam roll I44 which engages thecam face of a cam plate I l'I fixed to the operating sector I66. Thearrangement is such that upon the latter portion of the upward movementof the sector Idfi the roller Hi4 passes along the lower inclined faceI45 of the cam and hence the lever and the shaft Hill are permitted tobe moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, by the tensionof a spring I connected to the arm M2. This movement of the shaft I40takes place during the latter part of the printing operation and eifectsthe downward movement of the selector fram into stencil sensingposition.

The purpose of the completion of the electric circuit through or underthe control of the stencils is to effect the energization of anelectromagnet i5 3 (Fig. 3) which is located at the rear of the machine.This magnet controls the operation of the printing mechanism. Since,however, the selector is located two stencil positions away from theprinting position the completion of the circuit through the stencilcannot be utilized immediately to effect the energization of theelectromagnet, as improper control of the printing mechanism would beeffected. Hence the control of the electromagnet Hit by the selector iseffected through a delay, or accumulator, mechanism, shortly to bedescribed, so that the desired control of the printing mechanism iseffected. For a clear understanding of the need for and the action ofthe accumulator mechanism, the control of the printing mechanism by theelectromagnet I54 will be described first.

The electromagnet I54 when energized operates to pull down one end ofthe lever I56 which is pivoted between its ends and raises the other endof the lever I50 to lift a latch I58 which is loosely mounted on theaforesaid shaft I40. The latch I58 controls a trifurcated lever I50which is pivoted intermediate its ends at I62 to a depending bracket I64fixed to the rear of the machine bed 54. A lower furcation of the leverI99 is provided with a cam surface I66 which is arranged to engage a camroller I98 rotatably carried by the upper end of the latch I04. It isapparent that the lever I60 controls the connection between theoperating arm 92 and the sector I06. A spring I10 is connected to thelever I60 and to the frame of the machine in such a manner as normallyto urge the lower end of the lever away from the cam roll I68. The upperfurcation of the lever I60 is provided with a pair of vertically spacedupper and lower detents 50a, I?) and the latch member I58 is providedwith a detachably reversible hook member I12 which is arranged betweenand adapted, in the position illustrated in Fig. 4, to engage the lowerdetent I605. Thus, with the arrangement shown, which is the normalposition of the parts, the lower end of the lever I50 is held inengagement with the latch I04 so that the printing mechanism is normallydisabled. When however, the electromagnet I54 is energized to disconnectthe latch I 58 from the lever I60 thereby releasing the latch I04 andconnecting the operating arm 92 and the sector I06 to effect a printingoperation. The lever I60 is restored into engagement with the latch I 58during a part of every printing operation by means of a cam block I14carried by the operating sector I06 and engaging a cam roll I18 on thelever I60 which rotates the lever I06 in counterclockwise direction toreset the latch. With the mechanism so far described, the lever I00 isreset after every printing operation to disconnect the operatingmechanism from the operating sector I06.

With this method of operation, only one impression is made from the samestencil. It is necessary, therefore, to modify the above manner ofoperation in such a way that the operating arm 92 and the sector I06will remain engaged for two complete printing operations. Duplicateprinting mechanism is provided by which this result may be obtained andincludes an arm I18 fixed to the end of the operating arm 92 by a studbolt I89 which is fixed to the end of the arm 92 and on which the latchI04 is pivoted. Said arm I18 at its free end is provided with a screwI19 that is loosely located in a longitudinally elongated slot I8I of agenerally vertical link I82. The upper end of said link is pivotallyconnected to the free end of a pawl carrying lever I83 pivoted on ashoulder screw I carried by the frame of the machine. Said lever carriesa pawl I84 which cooperates with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 185loosely journalled on said shoulder screw. A cam disc I92 and aretaining drum together with the ratchet wheel I89 are pinned orotherwise suitably joined together for conjoint rotation about the shaftI88. The cam disc I92 is disposed beside and under the latch I58 and thelatch has a depending projecting I94 that rides upon the cam disc I92.The cam disc I92 has a plurality of lobes which successively engage andraise the latch I58. The arrangement is such that when a lobe is underthe latch projection I94 the latch is supported in an elevated positionand is disengaged from the tripping lever I60 for the latch I04. Whenthe projection I94 is located in the valley between the lobes, the latchI58 is free to move downwardly and thereby engages and locks thetripping lever I60 in such position that it holds the latch I04disengaged from the operating sector I95. The cam disc is-advancedintermittently by the strokes of the operating arm 92 in a step by stepmanner, each step being equal to one half of the distance between twoconsecutive lobes so that a lobe and a valley are positionedsuccessively under the projection I94. It is evident that with thisconstruction the latch I12 is held in an elevated position during everyalternate printing cycle so that it cannot engage and lock the trippinglever I60 and thus hold the latch I04 out of engagement with theoperating sector I 06. It is apparent that two printing operations areeffected on only one stencil for one feeling or sensing operationthereof.

As hereinbefore stated, the selector or sensing operation forconditioning the printing mechanism is located two stations in advanceof the printing station. As has been set forth hereinbefore, it isnecessary to provide means for delaying the operation of the selectormechanism until the selected stencil arrives in printing position. Tothis end, the present machine is provided with a delay or accumulatingmechanism (Figs. 5, 6, and '7) I98 which is located below the table 54and is supported in a bracket 200 suitably secured to a bracket or shelf202 fixed to one of the upright supporting members The upper end of thebracket 200 has j ournalled therein a shaft 204 to one end of which isfixed a ratchet wheel 206 and to the other end of which is fixed anaccumulator wheel 208. The ratchet wheel 206 is reciprocated during eachcycle of the machine through a link 2I9 having at one end a lost-motionconnection with an arm 2i2 fixed to the shaft to which the operating arm92 is also fixed. The other end of said arm or link 2I0 is pivotallyconnected to a pawl carrying arm H I journalled on the aforesaid shaft204 and carrying pawl 2I3 engageable with the teeth of the ratchet wheelso that the ratchet wheel and hence the accumulator disc is caused toadvance angularly by intermittent steps equal to the angular spacingbetween the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The accumulating disc 208 isprovided with a plurality of headed pins 2 l4 corresponding in numberand spacing to the number and spacing of the ratchet teeth, Which pinsare arranged for limited sliding movement axially of the accumulatingdisc 208.

Thus when the selector mechanism is operating upon a selected stenciland the electric circuit is completed between one or more pins I28 andthe stationary contact I30, an electromagnet 2I8 is energized, seecircuit diagram, Fig. 14, and operates to move an arm 2I8 in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 6 and against one of the pins 2I4 to movethe pin to the right. In this displaced position, the head 2I9 of thepin, due to the advance of the accumulator disc 208, will engage aswitch operating arm 220 which thereupon will be moved in acounter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7 to close an electricswitch 222. When the switch 222 is closed, the electrical circuit forthe first mentioned magnet I54 is completed to condition theprintingmechanism for a printing operation as has been explained. It is to benoted that the arm 2201's so located that the displaced pin 2I4 does notstrike the arm 220 until some time duringthe second stepof advance ofthe accumulating disc following the initial displacement of the pins.The accumulating mechanism thus permits the action of the magnet I54 tobe delayed until the, selected printing device or stencil 48 moved intoprinting position. The displaced pins are returned to their normalposition by a cam plate I99 fixed to the accumulator support which isarranged to engage the displaced pins after they have passed the switchoperating lever 226. The displaced pins are returned to normal positionbefore the displaced pins have rotated sufiiciently again to be inposition to beengaged. by the magnet lever 2I6.

Since two printing operationsare madev upon the same stencil selectedfor printing, it is nec-- essary that the selector frame bedisabledduring every alternate printing operation and also that thestencil advancing mechanism be disabled during alternate printingoperations. If, however, the sensed stencil under the selector frame isfound to be one that is not required for printing, then the selectormechanism and. also the stencil advancing mechanism are arranged to makean operation for each cycle of operation of the machine until a sensedstencil is found :to be one from which printing is desired and has beenmoved into printing position. Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 8,and So it is to be noted that stencil advancing mechanism includes apusher 224 which advances the successive lowermost stencils from thestack into and along the stencil track. The pusher 224 is reciprocatedby a connecting rod 226 which is located under the table 54 and ispivotally connected to the forwardly extending arm 228 of a bell cranklever having a vertical hub 230 pivoted to the. table and having anangularly related arm 262; the end of which operates in a cam slot 234formed in the operating sector 106. The cam slot234 is so shaped as toefiecta complete reciprocation of the pusher for each completereciprocation of the sector I66. The connection between the pusher andthe connecting rod 226 is by means of a pin 236 connected to the pusherand operating in a longitudinal slot 238 formed in the connecting rod226. The slot 238 has at one end a lateral extension 240. When the pin236 is in the extension 240 the pusher and the connecting rod 228 areoperatively connected. When, however, the link 228 is moved to theposition shown in Fig. 8, so as to position the pin 236 in linewith theslot 238, the connecting rod is free for reciprocation withouttransmitting that reciprocation to the pusher.

The control of the connection between the con necting rod 228 and thepusher 224 is effected through cam mechanism which is generally similarto the cam mechanism for controlling the operation of the printingmechanism controlling lever I60. The cam mechanism includes a movablelobe 242, a brake disc 244, and a ratchet disc 246 which are pinned orotherwise secured together. The parts mentioned just above are fixed toa vertical shaft 248 journalled in a bracket 250 carried by the table 54close to the connecting rod 226. A swinging arm 252 is located betweenthe cam and the connecting rod 228. The arm 262 is pivotally mounted atone end to the bracket 250 and at its other end carries rolls 254,

255 one of which is arranged to engage the movable lobe cam and theother is arranged to bear against the connecting link or arm 228. Aspring 256 is connected at one end to the link 228 and at its other endto the bottom of the table 54 in such a manner that the link 226 is heldagainst the rollers 255. It is evident therefore. that when the cam 242is rotated, the arm 228 will alternately be swung so that in oneposition the pin 236 fits into the lateral extension of the slot 240 topermit feeding of the stencils and in the other position the pin236 willbe located in alignment with the slot 238 so that the-feeding movementof the pusher will not be effected.

The rotation of the cam disc 242 is efiected by the operating sector I06but only; as determined by the selector mechanism. The cam disc 242 isadapted to be advanced progressively in an intermittent manner by meansincluding an arm 258 which carries a ratchet engaging pawl 260. The arm258 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 248 and at its other end carries apin 262 which is in a longitudinal slot 264 formed in the free end of alink 266 pivotedat its other end to the arm 229 of bell crank lever 228.The slot 264 is provided with a lateral extension 268. Thus, when thepin 262 is in thelateral extension the movement of the arm 266 istransmitted to the arm 258 thus advancing the cam step by step, but ifthe pin 262 islocated in alignment with the slot 264, the arm 266is'free to move without transmitting reciprocating movement to the pawlcarrying arm 258'. The arm or link 266 is normally urged in adirectiontoward the cam member 242 througha spring 268 connected at one end tothe arm 266 and at its other end to the bracket 250. The arm 266 isengaged by a pin 266 carried by one end of a bar 210 which in turn ispivotally connected to an arm 212 which is fixed to the pivot I62 towhich the lever I60 is fixed. Thus, when the lever I60 is released fromthe latch M2 the link 266 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 8with the pin 262 in the lateral extension 268. When, however, the leverI60 is in the position shownin Fig. 4 the arm or link 266 is free tomove under the influence of the spring 269 to position the pin 262 inthe end of the long slot 264. It is apparent therefore, that with this.construction the cam 242 will be rotated intermittently only when thelever I is free from the latch I12. In other words, the cam disc 242will not be rotated step by step unless the operating arm 92 and theoperating sector I06 are connected and thereby operating the impressionhead 66 and the platen 68. In the idle position of the cam'242, as thusdescribed, a dwell or valley of the cam confronts the roller 254 so thatthe pusher is thus conditioned to advance successive stencils onsuccessive cycles of the machine.

The stencil feed controlling mechanism also controls the reciprocationof the selector. To this enda control cam disc 233, see Fig. 1, islocated alcove the table :and is fixed to and driven concurrently withthe aforesaid cam 242. Said cam 233 is provided with a series of arcuatenotches 2215 and alternate circumferential dwell portions 26?corresponding in spacing with the lobes and dwell portions of the cam242. A rod 239 is provided with a roller.24I which is adapted to enterany one of said notches and is reciprocable in the radial direction ofthe cam and pivotally connected to a depending arm. 243 fixed to theaforesaid selector operating shaft I40. The arrangement is such that ifa circumferential lobe 23"! of the cam confronts the roller 2 itprevents the shaft I40 from being turned in a direction to permit thelowering of the selector frame into sensing relation with an underlyingstencil. Since the cam 233 advances con-currently with the'aforesaidstencilfeed controlling cam 242 it is apparent that the selector can bereciprocated into and out of sensing relation with the stencils bothonce for every cycle of operation ofthe machine or once for every twocycles of operation of themachine. In both instances, however, theselector mechanism makes but one sensing operation on any underlyingstencil.

Referring now to Fig.- 1 it will be noted that the machine is providedwith a forwardly extending table 214 which is secured to the forwardportion of the bed 54. The forwardly extending table 214 is providedwith vertically extending sides 2'56, .278 which form guides for aprinted sheet 30. The bottom of the table 214 extends forwardly andunder a bracket 280 having a Dortion spaced abovethe table and dependinglegs 282 which are fixed to the top of the table 54 as shown in Fig.1.,To insure that the leading edge of the sheet'36 is guided for movementunder the bracket 280, guide member 284 is detachably secured to thetable 54 by a knurled headed screw 286.; Located just forwardly of theguide member 284, is a sheet positioning pointer 288 which is fixed,preferably frictionally, to the table 54 in anysuitable manner so thatits position can be adjusted, if need be, toward and away from theprinting position for the purpose of properly registering the initialaddress on the work sheet. Said bracket member 289 has a lateralextension which is provided with rearwardly extending bosses which formbearings for a shaft 290 to which intermittently rotated feed wheels 292are secured. The shaft 290 is provided at its end with a gear 293, Fig.2, which meshes with a large gear 294-fixed to a stub shaft 296 mountedon a vertically extending bracket 298 secured to the top of the bracketmember 260. At. the other end of the stub shaft 296, is a ratchet wheel360 having a pawl 392 mounted on a pawl carrying arm 304 rotatablymounted on the shaft 296. The pawl carrying arm .394 is pivotallyconnected to a link 3136 which extends rearwardly and is provided at itsrear end with a longitudinal slot and is adjustably secured at the upperend of a substantially vertical arm 398' rigidly connected to the top ofthe loop 72. By this construction, the feed wheel 292 is rotated step bystep during each printing operation of the machine. A cooperating roller3Ill is journalled on and between the 1 top parts of a pair. of upwardlyextending arms 3l2 having an angularly related substantially horizontalportion 314 pivotally secured at 3l6 to a bracket 3l8 fixed to thebottom of the bed 54 of the machine. The arm 3l2 is normally urgedupwardly by a spring 320 which bears against the lower end of the arm3l2 and against an inclined bracket member 322 which may, asillustrated, be formed as a part of the bracket 318. The idler roll 3|0,therefore, is normally urged upwardly against the feed wheels 392 andinto cooperating feeding relation therewith.

It is necessary properly to position the sheets for the first addressingprinting operation and to this end, the indicating member or pointer 288is provided and is so located forwardly of the printing mechanism thatthe blank portion 36 ofthe expiration notice 32 is located below theimpression head 66 when the indicating member 288 is opposite to anindicating mark 324 on the sheet 30. This mark is preferably printed butany other suitable means may be provided if desired. 'The mark, forinstance, may be a printed line on the sheet. It is apparent, therefore,in order to properly position the sheet 30 for the first printingoperation, that the feed rolls 292 and 3H] must be separated to permitthe insertion of the leading end portion of the paper sheet. To thisend, mechanism is provided for moving the idlerv or presser roll 3H!down wardly away from the feed wheels 292. The machine is provided witha treadle 326 pivotally secured to the base of the machine at 328. Thepedal 326 extends beyond the pivot point and has a downwardly extendingboss 330 to which is pivotally secured a substantially vertical link332, the upper end of which is pivotally secured to one arm of a bellcrank lever 334. The bell crank lever 334 is pivotally secured to adepending bracket 336 which is fixed to the bottom of the bed 54 of themachine. The other arm of the bell crank lever 334 is pivotallyconnected to an upwardly extending link 338 which is pivotally connectedto the downwardly extending arm 34!] of the bell crank lever 342 whichis pivotally secured to a downwardly extending portion of the bracket 3|8. The other arm of the bell crank lever 342 is provided with a camportion 344 which engages a cam roll 346 fixed to the end of thelaterally extending arm 3M. Thus, when the treadle 326 is depressed thefeed roll 3| 0 will move in a counterclockwise direction away from thefeed roll 292 a distance sufficient to permit theinsertion of theforward end portion of the sheet 38. U

The boss 3.30 is also pivotally connected to another link 348 whichextends upwardly toward the rear of the machine and above the latchmember I12 to control the operation of the continuously rotating sheetfeeding mechanism, as will now be described. Referring now toFig. 1,also Figs. 2, 5, and 10, it will be noted that the machine is providedwith rearwardly extending members 350 and 352. The member 350 is in theform of a table which is inclined slightly downwardly away from the rearedge of the table 54. The member 350 is secured to the rear portion ofthe table 54 by brackets 354 and 356. The bracket member 354 extendsupwardly and rearwardly away from the rear edge of the table and hassubstantially horizontally rearwardly extending portions 355, 351 whichare secured to the under surface of the member 350. The table or member356 is also connected adjacent to its forward end to a rearwardlyextending supporting arm 36l by a bracket member 356a secured theretoand the rear end of the arm 36l is connected to the table 350 by abracket 35%. The rearward portion of the table 350 is also supported bya brace 358 which is secured to a support 58 and extends upwardly andrearwardly to a member 359a to which it is rigidly secured. The member359a is secured to the rear end portion of the member 350 by screws orother suitable means. The brackets 354, 356 are secured to substantiallyvertical members 359, 36I provided with bosses arranged to receive ashaft 368 to which a feed roll 310 is secured. The feed roll 310 isdriven by a spring belt 312 from a shaft 314 which in turn is rotatedthrough belt c0nnections to the continuously operating jack shaft H6.The feed roll 310 is thus continuously rotated but is effective to feedthe work only when a pair of cooperating idler wheels 316 are broughtinto cooperating feeding relation therewith. These idler wheels 3176 arerotatably mounted upon a shaft 313 mounted on a swinging bracket 380which is pivoted at 382 to the rear end of the forwardly extendingbracket member 383. The idler roll 3'14 are thus free to move toward andaway from the feed roll tlil. As is shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 5,the idler wheels 3'18 are normally held away from the feed roll 3111 bya pin 384 mounted in one end of a lever 386 fixed to one end of ahorizontal shaft 388. The shaft 388 is mounted in bearings 398 fixed tothe bracket 84 and extending rearwardly thereof. The other end of theshaft 388 is provided with a rearwardly and downwardly extending arm 392which in turn is pivotally secured to the upper end portion of theupwardly and rearwardly extending link 348. Thus when the pedal 323 towhich the link 348 is pivotally secured is depressed, the arms 386 and392 are moved in a clockwise direction moving the pin 384 away from thearm 383 thus permitting the arm and the wheels to move toward and intoengagement with the sheet of paper overlying the roll 379. Since theroll 3% is constantly rotating at a relatively high rate of speed, thesheet of paper will be fed forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 16to the position shown in Fig. 18 during the time when the operatorinserts another sheet between the cooperating feed rolls 292, 388.

The sheet above referred to is fed rearwardly step by step onto therearwardly extending table 350 between address printing operations. Thetable 350 is provided with a positioning member 394 which may beadjustably fixed to the rear end of the table 359. The table 353 is alsoprovided with a sheet pusher member 398 which extends longitudinally ofthe table 358 and is provided with an upstanding side portion 333. Theguide member 398 is operated to move the sheet laterally. The table 358is provided at about its middle longitudinal area with a slot 400 forreceiving a longitudinally extending member 482 to which the member 3%is secured by screws 484. The longitudinal member 402 is slidablymounted on guide rods The guide rods 4%, 4-68 extend through holesformed in the depending side portion 45% of the table 358. The endportions of the guide rods 406, 408 are fixed in supporting blocks 452,5. 4 which are fixed to the table 35% adjacent to depending side portion4H1 by screws 4P3, 4H3 respectively. The other ends of the rod 458 arefixed in supporting blocks 42:? and which are secured to the bed of thetable 3% by pairs of screws 424, 423.

The bracket member 442 is constantly urged toward the right, as viewedin Fig. 1, by springs 428, 439 secured to the ends of the member and tothe supporting blocks 4% and 422. The member 492 carries a depending camroll 432 which by the aforesaid spring 428, 438 is held in engagementwith a cam 434 rotatably mounted on a shouldered cap screw 4%. Theshouldered cap screw 433 is threaded into a bracket 438 secured to thetable 35% by screws 44%. A ratchet Wheel 442 is secured to the cammember 434 by screws or other suitable fastenings for conjoint rotationtherewih... It is to be noted that the ratchet wheel 442 is providedwith six teeth which are equal to the number of printing operations tobe performed on a single sheet.

The cam member 434 and the ratchet wheel 442 are rotated step by step bya cooperating pawl member 444 pivoted on a pawl arm 448 rotatablymounted on the shouldered cap screw 436. The pawl 444 is normally heldin engagement with the ratchet wheel 442 by a tension spring 448. Theratchet wheel 442 and the cam disc 434 associated therewith areprevented from overthrow by a spring brake composed of a plurality ofsprings 44'! located in holes found in the bracket 438. The lower endsof the springs 44'! bear against a metal washer 449 overlying a fibrewasher 45!. Said fibre washer bears against the upper surface of the camdisc 4-34 and effectively prevents overthrow of the disc and ratchet.The pawl 444, during its return movement, functionally engages theratchet wheel 442 and may cause retrograde movements of the wheel anddisc. A locking pawl 453 is provided which is pivotally mounted in ablock 455 located between the sup-- porting blocks M2. The locking pawl453 is maintained in engagement with the ratchet wheel 442 by a tensionspring 451. Said pawl arm 44-5 is pivotally secured to a substantiallyhorizontally extending link 45I which is provided at its free end with alongitudinally extending slot 452 and a laterally extending slot 454. Apin 45% is secured to the extension of the arm 232 of the stencil-pusherbell crank 228 and is arranged to enter the slot 452 and the lateralextension 458 thereof. The link 45! is normally urged in acounter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8, by a spring 453 so thatthe pin 45?: is located in the lateral extension 454 whereby to causethe link to oscillate. The pin 456 is arranged to be positioned inalignment with the longitudinally extending slot 452 for the purpose ofpreventing operation of the link 45!, by a bell crank lever 43!]pivotally mounted on a vertically extending stud 432 fixed to the lowerend of the downwardly and rearwardly extending bracket member 5 iii. Onearm of the bell crank lever N54 is arranged to engage the link 454 tomove it in a crosswise direction to bring the pin 4% into alignment withthe longitudinally extending slot 452. This movement of the bell crank468 is ef fected by the aforesaid printing controlling lever ltfl whichis arranged to engage the other arm of the bell crank lever 44!! whensaid lever IE4 is locked in position to disconnect the operatin arm 92and the operating sector 4% and thereby disable the printing mechanism.Thus, the ratchet 442 cannot be rotated except during the addressprinting operations of the machine.

It is to be noted that the cam member 343 ha a cylindrical configurationfor the angular space of approximately four teeth of the associatedratchet and has a depressed portion 434a between the fourth and thesixth tooth. Thus, as the cam is caused to rotate in a step by stepmanner, no movement of the sheet pushermember 338 takes place during theengagement of the cylindrical. portion of the cam with the associatedcam roller 432. At the end of the last cycle of the machine. however,the valley portion of the cam confronts the roller and hence during thisstroke of the cam the sheet pusher member is caused to move 7 laterallyand to feed the overlying sheet into The severing mechanism 464, as mostclearly shown in Fig. 10, comprises a plurality of cooperating rotatingknives 466, 468 three sets being here shown. The knives 466 are mountedon a shaft 410 which extends longitudinally and substantiallyhorizontally at the right of the table 358. The shaft is journalled indownwardly extending end portions of a bracket carrying member 412 fixedat one end to the bed of the machine through the bracket 413 and at therear end to an upwardly extending angular bracket 414 having an upwardlyextending portion and a substantially horizontal portion connected tothe member 351, the latter portion being also secured to the brace 358.As aforesaid, there are three knives 466 secured to the shaft 410 andthese knives are each secured to a supporting member or hub 416 which isfixed to the shaft 410. The cooperating knives 468 are mounted on ashaft 418 which extends below and parallel to the shaft 410. This shaft418 is journalled at one end in the upwardly extending portion of thebracket 414 and at its other end to the upwardly extending portion ofthe bracket member 356. The cooperating circular rotating knife members458 are ecured to hub portions 480 and are substantially identical tothe knives 466 and the hubs 416. The shaft 418 is provided at the endadjacent to the bed 54 of the machine with a pulley 482 which is beltdriven from a pulley 484 fixed to a horizontal shaft 486 and journalledin bearings formed in a bracket 488 secured to the top of the bracket84. The other end of the shaft 486 is provided with a pulley 498 whichis belt driven from a pulley mounted on a shaft 314 hereinbeforereferred to. The shaft 410 is driven from the shaft 418 by spur gears492, 494 fixed to the respective shafts 410 418. The knives 466 and 468are thus constantly rotated during operation of the machine. The shafts410 and 418 are provided with cooperating feed wheels 496, 498 therebeing two sets of these cooperating wheels for each set of knives toinsure that the severed forms will be fed in straight lines onto atraveling belt 500 mounted on the member 352 which moves the severedform into a container 502 mounted at the rear end portion of the member352.

As illustrated, the endless delivering belt 500 is mounted on pulleys504 and 506 secured to shafts journalled at one end in rearwardlyextending side supporting members 36! and 568, the member 508 beingsecured at its rearward end to the upwardly extending arm 414 of thebracket member 359 and at its forward end to a bracket member 415secured to the table 54. The travelling belt 500 is held tight by atensiom'ng roller |4 carried by and rotatable between the free ends ofarms 516 which are pivotally secured by a shaft 518 to the side members36!, 568. The arms 5l6 are urged in a belt tightening direction bysprings not necessary to illustrate. The forward pulley 584 is beltdriven from a pulley 526 fixed to the shaft 314 hercinbefore referredto, so that the belt 500 is constantly travelling in a direction awayfrom the table 54. Below the forward end of the travelling belt 500 is acontainer 524 which is fixed to one of the supports 58 of the machine.This container 524 is arranged to receive the waste end of the severedsheet.

It is to be noted at this point that the pair of knives 465, 468 locatednext to the bed 54 of the machine are located in a position which isjust forward of the forward end of the belt 509.

Thus when the feed tab endof a sheet is severed 7 it will slideforwardly of the belt and will drop into a downwardly extending chute526 and into the waste receiver 524.

Although the construction and operation of the illustrated machine hasbeen described in detail, it is believed advisable, for a clearerunderstanding of the present invention to summarize briefly theoperation of the machine. The operative depresses the treadle 326 toseparate the step-bystep sheet feeding members 292, 3i0 inserts theleading edge portion of a sheet between the feeding members and locatesthe mark 324 on the sheet opposite to the pointer 288. The operativethen rel ases the treadle 326 and depresses the treadle I20 to start themachine. If a wanted stencil is in printing position, the printingmechanism will make two successive impressions on the sheet from thatone stencil, the sheet being advanced between successive printingoperations. After the completion of the second printing op eration, thestencil is moved out of printing position and another wanted stencil isfed into printing position. Two impressions are made on the sheet fromthis stencil and the sheet is fed forwardly step by step betweensuccessive printing operations. The same operations are performed on thesheet with a third stencil and the addressed sheet now has its leadingedge portion projected between the feeding members 310, 316 in theposition shown in Fig. 16. After the completion of the last printingoperation, the operative releases the treadle I20 and depresses thetreadle 326 preparatory to inserting a second sheet in the machine. Asthe treadle 326 is depressed the feed roll 310 and presser wheels 316are brought into cooperating feeding relation with the paper sheettherebetween. The roll 310 is constantly rotated at a relatively highrate of speed and moves the sheet rapidly into the table 350 in positionto be moved laterally to the action of the severing means. During thistime, the operative has inserted a second sheet in the machine in properposition, released the treadle 326 and depressed the treadle I20 tostart printing operations on the second sheet, the lateral sheet feedingmeans 396 and the sheet now located thereon is moved toward the right asviewed in Fig. 1 to the action of the severing means 466, 468. The sheetis engaged by the feed rolls between the pairs of severing devices.

The severed pairs of receipts and notices drop upon the belt 500 and areconveyed to the receiver. During the address printing operation, thelateral sheet feeder 396 is returned to its original position as shownin Fig. 18. The machine continues to operate and the operations arerepeated until the required number of addresses is printed.

Although the invention has been described herein with particularreference to one illustrated embodiment thereof, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited thereto but that changes can be madewithin the scope of th appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Pattent of the United States is:

1. In an addressing machine, address printing mechanism, means forfeeding a sheet through said printing mechanism in a step by step mannerto permit a plurality of printing operations to be performed thereon,means for feeding successive address printing devices to the action ofsaid printing mechanism at intervals between plural printing operationsthereof, means for feeding said sheet laterally after the last printingoperation has been completed, and means for severing the sheet duringthe operation of the last mentionedfeeding means.

2. In an address printing machine, address printing mechanism, means forfeeding sheets to said printing mechanism to permit printing operationsto be performed thereon, means for severing said sheet, and means forfeeding the sheet laterally after the printing has been completed tomove said sheet into engagement with the severing means.

3. In an addressing machine, address printing mechanism, means forfeeding sheets to said printing mechanism to permit printing operationsto be performed thereon, means located at one side of the path of feedof said feeding means for severing said sheets, and means for feedingsaid sheets laterally to said severing mechanism after printingoperations have been performed on said sheets.

4. In an addressing machine, address printing mechanism, means forfeeding sheets step by step to said printing mechanism to permit aplurality of printing operations to be performed on said sheets,meanslocated at one side of the path of feed-f said step by step feedingmeans for severing said sheet into a plurality of parts, and feedingmeans operative to feed said sheets laterally to said severing mechanismafter printing operations thereon have been completed.

5. In an addressing machine, address printing mechanism, means forfeeding sheets to said printing mechanism to permit printing operationsto be performed thereon, rotating knives for severing said sheet, andmeans for feeding the sheet laterally into engagement with said rotatingknives after the printing operations have been completed.

6. In an addressing machine, address printing mechanism, means forfeeding sheets step by step to said printing mechanism to permitprinting operations to be performed thereon, continuously operated meanslocated at on side of the path of feed of the step by step feeding meansfor severing the sheets into a plurality of parts, and feeding meansoperativ to feed the sheets laterally to said continuously operatedsevering 'means after printing operations have been performed thereon.

'7. In an addressing machine, address printing mechanism. means forfeeding sheets to said printing mechanism to permit printing operationsto be performed thereon, means arranged to engage the sheet after thelast printing operation has been completed thereon for continuing thefeed of the sheets in the same direction as the i rat-mentioned feedingmeans, means for seversaid sheet, and means for feeding the sheetlaterally after the completion of the operation of said second feedingmeans to mov the sheet into engagement with the severing means.

8. In an addressing machine, address printing mechanism, means forfeeding sheets to said printing mechanism to permit a plurality of l stmentioned feeding means, and means for feeding the sheet laterally afterthe completion the feeding movement of said secondmentioned feedingmeansfor moving the sheet into engagement with said severing means.

direction as the feeding movement of the 10 9. In an addressing;machine, address printing mechanism, means for feeding sheets step bystep to said printing mechanism to permit printing operations to beperformed thereon, means located at one side of the path of feed of saidstep by step feeding means for severing said sheets into a plurality ofparts, means inoperative during the step-by step feeding movement of thefirst mentioned feeding means and operative after the last printingoperation has been completed to continue th feed of the sheets in thesame direction, and feeding means operative to feed the sheets laterallyto the severing means after the second feeding means has completed itsfeeding movement.

. 10. In an addressing machine, address printing mechanism, means forfeeding sheets to said printing mechanism to permit a-plurality ofprinting operations to be performed thereon, rotating knives forsevering said sheets, means for feeding the sheets in the same directionafter the printing operations have been completed, and means forprogressively andv continuously feeding the sheets laterally after thesecond feeding means has completed its operation to move the sheets intoengagement with said rotating knives for severing said sheets.

11. In an addressing machine, address printing mechanism, means forfeeding sheets to said printing mechanism to permit a plurality ofaddress printing operations to be performed thereon, means for severingsaid sheet, means for feeding the sheet laterally after the printingoperations have been completed on the sheet to move the sheet intoengagement with the severing means, means for receiving thesevered'parts, and means for feeding the severed parts to said receivingmeans.

12. In an addressing machine, address printing mechanism, means forfeeding sheets to said printing mechanismto permit-printing operationsto b performed thereon, rotating knives for severing said sheets into 'aplurality of parts, means for feeding the sheet laterally after theprinting operation has been completed to move the sheet into engagementwithsaid severing means, a receiver for the severed sheets, and meansfor feeding the severed parts of the sheets to said receiver.

-13. In an address printing machine, address printing mechanism, meansfor feeding sheets to the printing mechanism to permit printingoperations to be performed thereon, means for severing said sheet, meansfor continuing the feed of the sheet at the completionof the lastprintingoperation thereon, means for feeding the sheet laterally afterthe completion of the operation of the second feeding means to move thesheet .ceiver for the severed sheets, and means fo feeding the severedsheets-to the receiver.

14. In an addressing machine,address printing mechanism, means forfeeding sheets to feed printing mechanism to permit a plurality ofprinting operations to be performed thereon,

rotating knives for severing said sheets into a plurality of parts,means for continuing the feed of the sheets after the completion of thelast printing operation in the same direction as the feeding movement ofthe first mentioned feeding means, and means for feeding the sheetslaterally after the completion of the operation of the second mentionedfeeding means to move the sheet into engagement with saidrotating'knives.

15. Inan addressing-machine, means for performing a plurality of addressprinting operations on a sheet, means for feeding the sheet step by stepbetween addressing operations, a

plurality of knives mounted for rotation upon axes substantiallyparallel to the path of feeding movement of said step by step feedingmeans, and means for feeding the sheet transversely to said severingmeansafter the completion of the addressing operations.-

16. In an'address printing machine, address printing mechanism, meansfor feeding a sheet past said address printing mechanism step by step topermit a plurality of printing operations to be performed thereon, meansfor severing the sheet transversely, a laterally movable member forfeeding the sheet into engagement with said severing means and means formoving said later ally movable member toward said severing means andreturningsaid member to its original position while printing operationsare being per-- means while address printing operations are beingperformed on another sheet.

18. In an addressing machine, address printing mechanism, means forfeeding a sheet past said address printing mechanism step by step topermit a plurality of address printing operations to be performedthereon, means for severing the sheet transversely into a plurality ofparts, means for continuing the feed of the sheet in the same directionafter the completion of the last address printing operation on thesheet, means for moving the sheet laterally into engagement with saidsevering means, and means for reciprocating said lateral movable feedingmeans while address printing operations are being performed on anothersheet.

19.: In an address printing machine, address printing mechanism, meansfor feeding a sheet past said address printing mechanism step by step topermit a plurality of address printing operations to be performed on thesheet, means for severing the sheet transversely into a plurality ofparts, a laterally movable feeding member, means for feeding the sheetinto said laterally movable feeding member after the last addressprinting operation has been performed on the sheet, and means forreciprocating said laterally movable feeding member after the secondmentioned feeding means has completed itsoperation and before the lastaddress printing operation is completed on another sheet.

20. In an addressing machine, printing mechanism, means for advancingprinting devices in successive order to said printing mechanism, meansfor operating said printing mechanism to make a printing operation on anassociated printing device, -means controlling the operation of saiddevice advancing means to maintain a wanted printing device in saidprinting mechanism for a predetermined period of time and an unwantedprinting device for a lesser period of time, sheet feeding means foradvancing a sheet through said printing mechanism in an intermittentmanner in response only to the presence of wanted printing devicestherein, means controlled by said printing devices for efiectingduplicate printing operations on the same wanted printing device onsuccessive parts of the sheet and printing operations from differentwanted printing devices on different parts of the sheet, a sheetreceiving device arranged to receive the addressed sheet, slittingmechanism arranged to advance the sheet laterally of its length and tosever the sheet into sections containing different addresses, means foradvancing the addressed sheet laterally of its length into said slittingmechanism, and means for stacking the severed sections.

21. In an addressing machine, means for applying repetitions of the sameaddress to successive portions of a sheet and different addresses todifferent successive portions of the sheet, a sheet receiver adapted toreceive the addressed sheet, sheet severing mechanism disposed beside.said receiver adapted to sever the sheet into sections between theportions bearing different addresses, and means associated with saidreceiver operative to advance the sheet laterally into the action ofsaid severing mechanism.

22. In an addressing machine, means for applying difierent addresses tosuccessive parts of a long sheet, a sheet receiver adapted to supportthe addressed sheet, a pusher member disposed beside the sheet on saidreceiver adapted to advance it laterally, pusher operating meansincluding a cam having an operative engagement with said pusher member,means for advancing said cam in a smp by step manner, said cam having acam face engageable with a part of said pusher member so arranged that apart of the movement of said cam is free from corresponding movement ofsaid pusher member, said cam having another part of its cam face soarranged as to effect a relatively rapid movement of said pusher member,and sheet slitting means arranged to receive the sheet advanced by saidpusher member and sever it into sections containing different addresses.

23. In an addressing machine, means for applying different addresses tosuccessive parts of a long sheet, a sheet receiver adapted to supportthe addressed sheet, a pusher member disposed beside the sheet on saidreceiver adapted to advance it laterally, pusher operating meansincluding a cam having an operative engagement with said pusher member,means for advancing said cam in a step by step manner, said cam having acam face engageable with a part of said pusher member so arranged that apart of the movement of said cam is free from corresponding movement ofsaid pusher member, said cam having another part of its cam face soarranged as to effect a relatively rapid movement of said pusher member,and sheet slitting means arranged to receive the sheet advanced by saidpusher member and sever it into sections containing different addresses,said severing mechanism also including means for advancing the sheetindependently of said pusher, and means for stacking the severed sheetsections.

24. In an addressing machine, printing mechanism, means to advance asuccession of printing devices to the action of said printing mechanism,means for advancing to the action of said printing mechanism and saidsuccessive printing devices a strip having a succession of addressreceiving sections and an address free end section, means for operatingsaid printing mechanism to apply addresses to said address receivingsections of said strip, severing mechanism operative to receive theaddressed strip and to sever it into address containing sections and anaddress free section, and a conveyor belt arranged to receive thesevered sections, said severing means being arranged relatively to saidbelt to deposit the address bearing sections of the strip upon a pass ofsaid belt and the address free section of the strip at one end of thepass whereby said address free section can fall away from the belt.

25. In an address printing machine, address printing mechanism, a firstpair of feed rolls on one side of the address printing mechanism forfeeding sheets thereto, means for stepwise indexing of one of the firstfeed rolls between printing operations, a second pair of feed rolls onthe opposite side of the address printing mechanism for feeding printedsheets therefrom, and means for separating the first feed rolls when thefinal printing operation has been effected on a sheet and simultaneouslymoving the second feed rolls relatively together, and for separating thesecond feed rolls when the first feed rolls are in sheet feedingrelation.

26. In an address printing machine, address printing mechanism, a firstpair of feed rolls on printing mechanism for feeding sheets thereto,means for stepwise indexing of one of the first feed rolls betweenprinting operations, a second pair of feed rolls on the opposite side ofthe address printing mechanism for feeding printed sheets therefrom,means for advancing a succession of addressbearing printing devices tothe action of the ad-, dress printing mechanism, means for maintainingin printing position each said address-bearing printing device which isacted upon by the address printing mechanism until a plurality ofprintings are made therefrom, means for operating said first feed rollsfor step by step advance of each sheet to the printing position until aplurality of impressions from each of a plurality of saidaddress-bearing printing devices has been made thereon, and means forsimultaneously moving the second feed rolls relatively together and thefirst feed rolls relatively apart when the final printing operation hasbeen efiected on a sheet, and for separating the second feed rolls whenthe first feed rolls are in sheet feeding relation.

one side of the address HARMON P. ELLIOTT.

